A Florida sheriff's deputy, Eddie Duran, has been fired for using unreasonable deadly force after fatally shooting Black airman Roger Fortson in his home. An internal investigation found that Fortson did not pose a threat, contradicting Duran's claims. A criminal investigation is ongoing, and Fortson's family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, is calling for charges against Duran. The incident occurred after deputies responded to a disturbance call, but it appears they may have gone to the wrong apartment.
Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the Biden administration authorized the FBI to use deadly force against him during a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate. The language Trump referenced is a standard policy statement included in all search warrants to limit the use of deadly force, not a specific directive against him. The FBI and legal experts confirmed that the policy is routine and not evidence of a plot to harm Trump. Despite this, Trump and his supporters have spread the erroneous allegation.
The California attorney general announced that the Los Angeles police officer who fatally shot 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta in a clothing store in 2021 will not face charges, despite national outrage and a rare rebuke from the LAPD's civilian oversight group. The officer's gunfire, aimed at a suspect attacking customers, also killed the teenager. The state's justice department cited "insufficient evidence" for criminal prosecution, while recommending updates to police communication training. The shooting has reignited scrutiny over the LAPD's use of deadly force, amid ongoing concerns about police accountability.
Police in Brooklyn fatally shot and killed a 20-year-old man, Nathan Scott, who was chasing and shooting at a mugger after his wallet was stolen. The officers responded to reports of gunshots and encountered Scott firing at a man and a woman. Scott was shot several times and later died at the hospital. The incident is under investigation to determine if the officers followed proper protocol.
Three San Antonio police officers have been charged with murder after they allegedly shot and killed a woman in her apartment. The officers had responded to a call about a woman destroying property and found Melissa Perez, 46, who was experiencing a mental health crisis. The officers attempted to arrest her, but she allegedly picked up a hammer and threw a glass candle at them. One officer fired multiple rounds, but it did not appear she was struck. Two other officers then shot Perez, who was later pronounced dead. The officers have been suspended and their actions are not consistent with SAPD's policy training.
The US has called on Israel to investigate its use of deadly force among civilians after a two-year-old Palestinian boy died from being mistakenly shot by Israeli troops during a West Bank gunfire exchange last week. The Israel Defense Forces said the killing was an accident and that the incident was being investigated. Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have been elevated for the past year, with the military carrying out near-nightly raids in the West Bank in the wake of a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks.
A man shot and killed two people in Rhode Island before being fatally shot by police after a car chase. The shootings were sparked by a domestic and neighborhood dispute. The suspect, James Harrison, drove the wrong way on a major road, swerved at several police vehicles, and struck one before being apprehended. Witnesses reported hearing "more than 50 gunshots" during the interaction between police and Harrison. The state attorney general’s office is investigating law enforcement’s use of deadly force.
A Texas man has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting and killing a man who scammed him out of $40 by posing as a parking attendant. The accused, Erick Aguirre, reportedly retrieved a pistol and went after the victim, Elliot Nix, after realizing he had been scammed. Aguirre's date claimed she did not see or hear what he had done and was only told that "he had just scared the guy and everything was fine." Aguirre's attorney may argue that the use of deadly force was justified under state laws related to protection of property, but the circumstances of the case may not help his defense.
A Florida man shot at an Instacart driver and his girlfriend when they mistakenly drove onto his property. The couple were meant to deliver groceries to the man's neighbor but got lost and turned onto the wrong property. The man claimed he fired shots into the car's tires to disable it after it drove toward him and over his foot. The incident has sparked a conversation around the use of deadly force in everyday misunderstandings and interactions. The case is now under legal investigation.
The recent case of a white man shooting a black teen who mistakenly appeared on his doorstep has raised questions about North Carolina's Stand Your Ground Law. The law removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force, but a professor at North Carolina Central University says it only applies when a person reasonably believes they are in serious danger of bodily injury or death. A recent study found that Stand Your Ground laws are linked to an 11% increase in firearm-related homicides.
